I'.tll] '/// /V///sirtfI Ckr/nis/r// tind Ihr Dor/ri/if nf Tinimuiilij. l'17 



satisfactory having regard to the magnitude of the errors of ol)serva- 

 tion. Even acids act as hemolysins. 



As is well known, water itself acts as a weak liase and acid, and 

 therefore acts as a hemolysin. Gros observed that red blood-corpuscles, 

 enmlsionated in an isotonic cane-sugar solution, are completely hemo- 

 lysed in IS • 8 minutes at 59° C, in 45 • 5 minutes at 56' 0. This corre- 

 sponds to an increase in the velocity of reaction in the proportion of 

 1 to 10 in an interval of 10" C. Madsen determined the increase of 

 the velocity of reaction in the hemolysis by means of acids, bases, 

 and hemolysins of bacterial origin, such as streptolysin and vibrio- 

 lysin. He observed an increase in the proportion of about 1 to 4 in 

 an interval of 10° C. For some snake-poisons, e.g. those from Naja 

 tripudidns or Ancistrodoii (water-moccasin) lie observed maxima of 

 action at a certain temperature. The cause of these maxima is still 

 unexplained. 



Strong acids react much more rapidly than weak acids ; but if 

 small doses are used, so that a considerable time (e.g. 12 hours) was 

 necessary for the reaction, the strong acids (e.g. HCl) acted only 

 about 1 "25 times stronger than very weak ones (e.g. acetic acid) used 

 in equivalent quantities. This indicates that a real chemical union 

 takes place, which causes the hemolysis. A similar remark may be 

 made regarding the bases. The action of acids is very much in- 

 creased if the blood-corpuscles have been treated for some time (20 

 minutes) with a weak emulsion of lecithin. Oleic acid, and other 

 fatty acids of high molecular weight, act more strongly than other acids. 



In these reactions the hemolytic or agglutinating substance is 

 rather rapidly taken up liy the red blood-corpuscles or bacteria ; but 

 it takes some considerable time— the so-called time of incubation 

 — till hemolysis begins. This indicates that it is a rather slow chemical 

 {u-ocess which causes the hemolysis or agglutination, after the hemo- 

 lysing or agglutinating substances are united to substances in the 

 interior of the treated ceils. 



VI.— Partition of Hemolysing or Agglutinating Substances 

 BETWEEN Cells and the Surrounding Medium. 



If we allow an emulsion of red blood-corpuscles or bacteria to stand 

 for some time with a hemolytic or agglutinating substance dissolved 

 in an isotonic solution of e.g. sodium chloride, the substance is 

 absorbed rather rapidly by the emulsionated cells. We may there- 

 after centrifuge away the cells and examine the remaining fluid as 

 to its contents of acting substance. By these means it is possible to 

 determine the rate of partition of the said substance between the cells 

 and the surrounding solution. If we wish to avoid hemolysis, it is 

 necessary to work at a low temperature (near 0°). A shaking up of 

 the cells now and then is also desirable. 



